The Mini hatchback is close to its sell by date. Now in its second generation, the model has been around for over 10 years (since 2001). It was reported last month that the company were planning to release a special model for the final farewell of the Mini hatchback. It will be known as the Mini John Cooper Works GP II and pictures of it has surfaced on the Internet.

This is not the first time Mini has pulled this trick. The Mini John Cooper Works GP was released when the first generation Mini hatchback was about to be replaced with a new model (which is the current generation Mini hatchback). The original Mini John Cooper Works GP was generally a tuned and stripped out Mini JCW.

Churning out 218bhp from its 1.6-litre turbocharged four cylinder engine. The rear seats were removed and replaced with an internal strut brace, aluminium suspension components and also removed was the sound insulation. This resulted in a 40kg weight loss and a century sprint of less than 6.5 seconds.

The above is pretty much about the original Mini JCW GP. Now let us see what Mini has to offer for the JCW GP’s second iteration. Mini does not seem to want us to know much about the car’s engine performance but rumours has it that the car is churning out around 225bhp.

What Mini has revealed is that the JCW GP II is able to lap the Nurburgring in 8 minutes and 23 seconds; a whooping 19 seconds faster than the original JCW GP.

Other than the Nurburgring lap timing, Mini has unveiled much on the looks of the car. The JCW GP II will be built with a “masculine-looking” bodykit with some dash of red on the front bumpers, bonnet and side mirrors. A GP graphic adorns both sides of the car and also on the bonnet vent. The rear seats are removed, just like in the original GP, but it is not known whether they will be replaced with an internal strut brace. Plus, the front seats are replaced with sports seats.

In order to make the Mini John Cooper Works GP II handling and braking system work in tandem with the lightened weight and extra performance, the car is fitted with an adjustable racing suspension, a racing-spec braking system and racing tyres with alloy wheels. As mentioned above, the performance figures of the JCW GP II is not revealed but with the lightened weight, the car will be quicker than any Mini ever built.

The Mini John Cooper Works GP II will get its public debut at Le Castellet in France this month and only 2000 units will be built.